Senior Al Qaeda Commander Targeted by US Drone Strike: US Official

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FILE In this undated handout file photo provided by the U.S. Air Force, an MQ-9 Reaper, armed with GBU-12 Paveway II laser guided munitions and AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, is piloted by Col. Lex Turner during a combat mission over southern Afghanistan.

A senior al Qaeda commander involved in plots against the United States and Europe was targeted in a U.S. drone strike in eastern Afghanistan, U.S. officials said Wednesday.

Nayef Salam Muhammad Ujaym al-Hababi and his deputy, Balal al-Utabi, were targeted in separate strikes in the Kunar province, a U.S. official told NBC News on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the media.

Sunday's attack was "the most significant al Qaeda strike in Afghanistan in several years," involving Hellfire air-to-surface missiles on each compound, which were "leveled," one of the officials told NBC News.

Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook confirmed Wednesday night that the strikes took place Sunday, saying, "We are still assessing the results."